2026 NFL Season Preview

The NFC North looks to be the hottest division in football and the Lions look capable of going all the way to their first ever Super Bowl.

Division Winner

Detroit Lions

NFC North Winner

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$2.62

The Detroit Lions are the real deal and would be disappointed with anything short of the NFC Championship game. They can win the Super Bowl.

Forget last season. Defensive injuries completely castrated the Lions hopes. Detroit had a highly disappointing season and they still finished 9-8. They fell 1.2 wins short of their true win number while they have one of the four easiest schedules on the books. Drew Petzing is an upgrade over John Morton as OC and there is no more dangerous set of weapons on offense than at the Lions. If the defence can just get to league average then we could be looking at a 14 or 15 win team in 2026.

Minnesota have a major concern at quarterback but if astute coach Kevin O’Connell can either develop JJ McCarthy or rejuvenate Kyler Murray then the Vikings are poised to win. Their huge fall last year was completely a result of quarterback play and that will improve with Murray. The -9 turnover ratio and sharp fall of five wins last year suggest rebound in 2026. Minnesota project as a wildcard team.

Chicago claimed the division last season but have some major regression heading their way that even the talented Ben Johnson is going to be able to fend off.

Green Bay are an interesting prospect but their upside is capped, particularly with defensive star Micah Parsons set to miss half the season. They certainly are going to go backwards on defence after being one of the healthier teams on the defensive side of the ball. Jordan Love is not an elite quarterback and this team really has no identity on offense. A sub .500 finish looms for just the second time in the last eight seasons.

Season Wins Over/Under

Chicago Bears Under 9.5

Season Wins

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$1.75

Chicago made a stunning leap in Ben Johnson’s first season at the helm in 2025, jumping to 11 wins and a rare NFC North title. The sustainability of that leaps is well and truly under the spotlight given some of the numbers suggesting it was built on a foundation of sand. The Bears went an obscene +22 with their turnover ratio while they finished nearly two full wins above their true win number. They were also one of the healthiest teams on offense. Chicago have made some positive moves on defence led by Coby Bryant but in a brutal division and with the negative regression monster looming large, the under is the way to bet the Bears in 2026.

Player Prop

Jahmyr Gibbs

Most Regular Season Rushing Yards

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$8.00

Jahmyr Gibbs has been a tremendous running back since being drafted by the Lions in 2023. In each of the last two seasons he has gone for 1412 yards and 1223 yards on the ground – with 500-plus receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. Those rushing totals put him fifth and seventh respectively on the rushing leaderboard. With David Montgomery now at Houston, Gibbs is going to get a sharp increase in carries.

Editor in Chief

Frankie McDonald

Frankie has spent more than two decades working in the Australian wagering industry and is widely regarded for his expertise in AFL, NRL and horse racing tips.